She came to space through her husband Eugene Shoemaker, who was particularly interested in craters on the moon and other celestial bodies. Carolyn initially took care of the family, but was later hired as a scientist at Palomar Observatory – she had demonstrated outstanding skills at observing the sky.
Most famous discovery: Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9
Their most famous discovery was Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, which broke up in orbit around Jupiter. Its fragments eventually crashed into the planet.
Shortly before, a reporter asked her what would happen if the chunks hit the ground. “We would all die,” was her dry reply. When the reporter countered that the question was for a children’s show, she corrected herself, “We would all feel uncomfortable.”
Tragic accident at work in Australia
Together with her husband, she examined many impact craters on Earth. There was a traffic accident in the Australian outback in the late 1990s. Eugene died instantly, Carolyn Shoemaker survived badly injured. As sad as she was, she said at the time, she was glad that her husband died in the middle of the work he loved so much.
Carolyn Shoemaker died in 2021 at the age of 92
Carolyn continued her research for several more years. A year ago today she died at the age of 92 after a fall.